Why Are ISRO Scientists Resigning? Department of Space Tightens Exit Rules Amid Staff Exodus

The Department of Space (DoS) has tightened rules governing resignations and voluntary retirement requests from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists after a reported rise in departures from teams involved in critical programmes, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. A new internal memorandum dated July 14 directs ISRO centres to seek DoS approval before accepting such requests from key scientific and technical personnel.

According to the Times of India report, the move comes after multiple ISRO sources reported that around 100 to 120 scientists may have resigned in recent months, raising concerns over the loss of experienced personnel involved in major national missions. Officials, however, said the organisation has systems in place to manage the transition. New Zealand’s Space Sector Played Key Role in Chandrayaan-3 Success, Says PM Narendra Modi (Watch Video).

Over 100 ISRO Scientists Quit

India's space programme is bleeding?

Nearly 120 ISRO scientists have resigned in recent months according to Isro sources, with nearly 80 from the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, and around 20 from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram

The departures… pic.twitter.com/OnCfGLrD0O

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) July 16, 2026

Department of Space Tightens Exit Approval Process

According to the internal memorandum accessed by India Today, ISRO centres have been instructed not to routinely approve resignation or voluntary retirement requests from Group ‘A’ scientific and technical personnel associated with Gaganyaan and other strategically important projects.

All such requests must now be referred to the Department of Space for final approval. The directive states: “It is noticed that there has been a spate of requests for voluntary retirement and resignation from Group 'A' scientific/technical personnel including those associated with prestigious Gaganyaan and other important missions/projects, severely impacting implementation of projects of national importance.” Who Are the 11 US Scientists Missing or Dead Under ‘Unexplained Circumstances’?

The new process reverses an administrative reform introduced in November 2020, which allowed ISRO centre directors to approve resignations and voluntary retirement requests for scientists up to the Scientist/Engineer-SG level.

Around 100 Scientists Reportedly Leave ISRO Centres

While the Department of Space has not officially released figures on the number of departures, sources cited by The Times of India said the number could be between 100 and 120.

According to reports, around 80 scientists have left the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, while at least 20 departures have been reported from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. Sources indicated that more resignation requests may still be under review.

The departures reportedly include senior officials associated with major missions, including LVM3 Project Director Victor Joseph, the SpaDeX Project Director from URSC, and Aditya Rallapalli, who led the simulation team for the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s landing sequence.

ISRO Chairman Says Transition Is Being Managed

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan acknowledged the resignations but said the organisation was prepared to handle changes in personnel.

"Yes, a lot of people go, but that's part of every organisation. The move isn't only to retain, but also to ensure that important projects don't suffer all of a sudden. If someone is still going, someone else will take responsibility. We're taking care of it," he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Officials said the concern is not only about filling vacancies but also about retaining specialised knowledge developed through years of work on complex missions.

Focus on Protecting Mission Experience

ISRO has more than 14,600 employees, meaning the reported resignations represent a small proportion of its workforce. However, many of those leaving are linked to high-priority programmes, making the loss of experience a key concern.

Projects such as Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan and SpaDeX require mission-specific expertise that cannot be quickly replaced through new recruitment.

The Department of Space’s intervention reflects concerns that replacing experienced scientists leading major missions could take significantly longer than filling vacant positions.

ISRO Recruitment and Future Missions

ISRO’s annual report states that recruitment for more than 1,050 scientific, technical and administrative posts is underway. The organisation is also carrying out cadre restructuring to strengthen its workforce.

Historically, employee exits have occurred at ISRO. Official figures show that around 700 employees resigned between 2012 and 2024. The agency has also previously faced periods of higher attrition among new recruits.

With major programmes such as Gaganyaan, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and future lunar exploration missions planned for the coming years, retaining experienced scientists has become a priority for India’s space programme.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2026 07:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).